2006 Balthazar of the Barossa Shiraz
“Opulent. Seductive. Complex. Concentrated .Generous. Balanced. The 2006 Balthazar Shiraz is now waiting for your immediate enjoyment or for cellaring, which will enhance your future drinking pleasure. This is the first Balthazar in screwcap! Enjoy! Anita
Viti
Solid Spring rains in October, with a few sizeable spits during Summer helped carry the vines and their crop through to harvest in mid-March. We were fortunate to harvest just before an unseasonal 24 hour deluge of 50ml that fell late March. Usual viti practices of shoot thinning, straw mulching, organic spray regime helped the vines along.
Vini
Harvested from the Hill Block on 16th, and House Block on 23rd of March, the 2 parcels were vinified separately in small, open-top fermenters for 7 days being pumped over twice daily. Racked into new & seasoned French and American oak barrels, the 2 components matured for 19 months before being blended and bottled in December 2007.
Vino:
| Colour: | Bright garnet rim with deep ruby hue |
| Palate: | Bright, spiced red and black fruits, anise notes supported by smooth, slippery tannins, finishing luscious and long. |
| Analysis: | pH: 3.54 TA: 6.32g/L ALC: 15.4% RS: 3.0 |
| Cellar: | Totally approachable now but you can sit on it up to 2025. |
Trophy The Tanunda Cellars Trophy-Best Young Dry Red Shiraz, Class 9 & 10, 2008 Barossa Wine Show
Gold Medal 2008 Barossa Wine Show [Class 10 -Dry Red, Varietal Shiraz, Vintage 2006]
Silver 2009 The Visy Great Australian Shiraz Challenge (Top Silver)
Silver 2009 International Wine & Spirit Competition (London)
Silver 2009 Australian Small Winemakers Show (Cl 55)
Silver 2009 Boutique Wine Awards [Cl 13]
Silver 2009 Royal Sydney Wine Show [Cl 32]
Silver 2008 Adelaide Wine Show [Cl 44]
Silver 2008 Rutherglen Wine Show [Class 233]
Silver 2008 Cowra Wine Show [Class 33]
Silver 2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition, London
Bronze 2009 Royal Melbourne Wine Show (Cl 32)
Bronze 2009 Barossa Wine Show [ Class 11]
Bronze 2009 Royal Adelaide Wine Show (Cl 44)
Bronze 2009 Rutherglen Wine Show [Class 243]
Bronze 2009 Marananga Wine Show
Bronze 2009 Cowra Wine Show [Class 83]
Bronze 2008 National Wine Show [Cl 26]
Bronze 2008 Australian Small Winemakers Show [Cl 54]
Bronze 2008 Marananga Wine Show
95 Points 2010 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
94 Points 2008 Adelaide Review Cellar Notes, Oct 2008, Nick Stock
“Deep and bright colour; the first impression of this wine is the oak, but underneath there is a brooding dark quality to the fruit; layered, complex and very polished bright red and black fruits come through on the palate, and the finish is long, even and generous” 95 James Halliday 2010 Wine Companion
“This is one of the emerging smaller-production Barossa wines setting the landscape alight, winning top gold in the recent Barossa Wine Show amidst revered and famous company. Anita Bowen has transitioned nicely from sex therapist to winemaker and crafted a gently seductive 2006 shiraz, displaying sheer fruit power and concentration without ever looking like stepping over the line of balance. Spiced plums and blackberry fruit, some anise and gentle tarry notes, the oak is cast in a supporting role. Tannins flow in smooth lines from start to finish, resolved and shapely; this will mature evenly for 12+years.” 94 Nick Stock. The Adelaide Review Oct 2008.